Portable loudspeaker systems

Abstract

A loudspeaker system includes a subwoofer. The subwoofer includes a housing having a plurality of walls which together define an acoustic cavity. The plurality of walls includes a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and a plurality of sidewalls extending between the top and bottom walls and between the front and rear walls. A first transducer mounted to the front wall of the housing. The first transducer includes a diaphragm having a major axis and a minor axis. The major axis has a fist end proximate the bottom wall and an opposite, second end proximate the top wall, such that the major axis is arranged vertical, relative to ground when the subwoofer is rested on its bottom wall. The top wall has a handle such that the loudspeaker can be carried with the major axis arranged vertical to ground.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A loudspeaker system comprising:
 a subwoofer comprising:
 a housing comprising a plurality of walls which together define an acoustic cavity, the plurality of walls comprising a front wall, a rear wall opposite the front wall, a top wall, a bottom wall opposite the top wall, and a plurality of sidewalls that extend between the top wall and the bottom wall and between the front and rear walls; 
 a first electro-acoustic transducer mounted to the front wall of the housing; 
 
 wherein the first electro-acoustic transducer comprises a diaphragm having a major axis and a minor axis, and wherein the major axis is longer than the minor axis, the major axis having a first end proximate the bottom wall and an opposite, second end proximate the top wall, such that the major axis is arranged substantially vertical, relative to ground when the subwoofer is rested on its bottom wall, and 
 wherein the top wall has a handle such that the loudspeaker can be carried with the major axis arranged vertical to ground. 
 
     
     
       2. The loudspeaker system of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls are substantially parallel with the major axis of the first electro-acoustic transducer. 
     
     
       3. The loudspeaker system of  claim 1 , further comprising an amplifier disposed within the acoustic cavity, and one or more bass reflex ports that extend through one or more of the plurality of walls, wherein the one or more bass reflex ports are arranged to facilitate a cooling air flow across the amplifier. 
     
     
       4. The loudspeaker system of  claim 1 , wherein the rear wall comprises an i/o panel, wherein the subwoofer comprises an amplifier disposed within the acoustic cavity, and wherein the amplifier is mounted to the i/o panel such that heat dissipated from the amplifier can be transferred through the i/o panel via conduction. 
     
     
       5. The loudspeaker system of  4 , wherein the amplifier has a power output of 400 Watts to 1000 Watts. 
     
     
       6. The loudspeaker system of  claim 4 , wherein the subwoofer comprises a mixing console disposed within the acoustic cavity and mounted to the i/o panel. 
     
     
       7. The loudspeaker system of  claim 1 , wherein the major axis is about 1.30 times to about 1.50 times longer than the minor axis. 
     
     
       8. The loudspeaker system of  claim 7 , wherein the major axis is 1.38 times to 1.42 times longer than the minor axis. 
     
     
       9. The loudspeaker system of  claim 1 , wherein the subwoofer provides a Sound Pressure Level (SPL) output of about 110 dB to about 130 dB SPL with 1000 Watts or less. 
     
     
       10. The loudspeaker system of  claim 9 , wherein the subwoofer has a total package volume of 120 Liters or less. 
     
     
       11. The loudspeaker system of  claim 10 , wherein the subwoofer has a total package volume of about 80 Liters to about 120 Liters. 
     
     
       12. The loudspeaker system of  claim 9 , wherein the acoustic cavity has an acoustic volume of 60 Liters or less. 
     
     
       13. The loudspeaker system of  claim 12 , wherein the acoustic cavity has an acoustic volume of about 30 Liters to about 60 Liters. 
     
     
       14. The loudspeaker system of  claim 1 , further comprising a line array assembly, the line array assembly comprising a plurality of second electro-acoustic transducers, wherein the subwoofer comprises a receptacle for receiving the line array assembly, wherein the receptacle includes a first electrical connector and wherein the line array assembly includes a second electrical connector that is configured to mate with the first electrical connector for powering the line array assembly via the subwoofer. 
     
     
       15. The loudspeaker system of  claim 14 , wherein the second electro-acoustic transducers are mid/high frequency transducers having an operating frequency range of about 200 Hz to about 18 kHz. 
     
     
       16. The loudspeaker system of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is in the shape of an ellipse, an oval, or a racetrack. 
     
     
       17. The loudspeaker system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electro-acoustic transducer is a low frequency transducer having an operating frequency range of about 20 Hz to about 300 Hz. 
     
     
       18. The loudspeaker system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electro-acoustic transducer has a suspension compliance of about 0.06 mm/N to about 0.12 mm/N; a maximum linear excursion of about 6.00 mm to about 9.50 mm; an effective cone diameter of about 22.00 cm to about 32.00 cm; an effective piston area of about 410.00 cm{circumflex over ( )}2 to about 762.00 cm{circumflex over ( )}2; and a maximum SPL of about 110 dB to about 130 dB. 
     
     
       19. The loudspeaker system of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm includes integral ribs for increased stiffness. 
     
     
       20. The loudspeaker system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a height-to-width ratio of about 1.7 to about 2.2.